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Paisleys Abroad
Paisleys Abroad

Paisleys Abroad

traveled in 18 countries Read more🇮🇸Reykjavík
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  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    Leaving Chaing Mai...
    Malcolm and Chloë holding the giant snakeThe mini-van we took to PaiOur tentThe pool at the 'glampsite'Just chillin'

    Busy Busy Busy!!

    January 8, 2019 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    Right now we are leaving pai after only staying for one night. This is what happened since we left our old home in Chiang Mai that we stayed at for about 1 month:
    - we took a big bus (3 hours) out to Chiang Rai, and stayed at a very nice hostel called the Mercy Hostel, for 3 nights. (There will probably be a different post about what we did in Chiang Rai)
    But by the way Malcolm and I held a giant snake together...

    - Then we took another big bus back to Chiang Mai, and stayed at the Big & O Hostel for 1 night.

    -Next we took a minivan/bus to pai. We were at the very back of the bus, and the road from Chiang Mai to Pai was very bumpy and very curvy (792 sharp turns to be exact). I know some people who might be reading this would’ve hated this ride.
    On the bus ride, we were all feeling a little sick, but Malcolm thew up on the bus (in a bag) and I was feeling rotten until about 7 o’clock at night, when I threw up in a
    7 eleven garbage can.

    - last night we stayed at a campground/hostel, with a pool and pool playground. My dad says it wasn’t camping, it was ‘glamping’ because the tents were huge and we slept on giant air mattresses. There were also two pool tables (Malcolm was in heaven).

    - We are now on our way to the Cave Lodge near Soppong, and we are taking a taxi.

    - Chloë
    🤮 🤢 🤮    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    Longtail boat ride from Chiang Rai
    We planted trees to participate in a reforestation project. Chai made us a bamboo shovel.Many friendly animals are available to play with the kids.Bowls, ladle and chopsticks all made from bamboo at our campsite.Roast chicken, boiled eggs and vegetable curry soup for lunch!Bridge made from bamboo (not even scary to walk on).A hobby horse made from banana leaf.

    Chai Machete Tour....

    January 5, 2019 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Today we took a boat ride from Chiang Rai up the Mae Kok River 🚣‍♀️. Our tour guide Chai and his dog Panda met us at the dock (Chloë and Malcolm wore a snake 🐍) and we drove to the start of our trek 🚘 . We had a lot of climbing to do. Along the way we planted trees as part of a reforestation project 🌱. Chai carried a machete 🗡 , he used it to make many different toys for the children (a bamboo pop gun, elephant grass airplanes, a banana leaf hobby horse). He also used his machete to carve spoons 🥄, bowls 🥣, cups 🥛, cooking pots, and chopsticks 🥢 for our lunch. On the menu was pork 🥓, chicken🍗, eggs🥚, soup🍲 and noodles 🍝 that were all cooked over a fire. During lunch a giant bamboo tree 🎋 fell a few metres from our lunch spot (yikes). On the trek we walked through several hill tribe villages and saw farms of pineapple 🍍 , garlic and oolong tea🍵. We hiked a really long way and then jumped in the back of a pick up truck (two bikes 🚲 , seven people 🧒👧👱‍♀️🧔👩👨🏽‍🦳👨🏾and two wet dogs 🐕🐕 ) to ride to a natural hot spring. 🛁
    - Geoff and Chloë    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    2
    Writing on our new years lanternOf course, Geoff catches a flaming lantern coming down on the crowd to save the day!

    And a happy New Year !

    January 1, 2019 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    To ring in the New Year Chiang Mai-style, we headed to the Old City, stopping at a Wat to send our New Year wishes up into the sky via lantern. After the kids were in bed, Geoff and I snuck back out to join the party by the city moat. I can’t get enough of these lanterns. They are so beautiful (until the next morning when the streets are littered with ashes and metal rings!). Happy New Year everyone and best wishes for 2019!Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    3Dale had a big grassy lunch!The Poopoo paper factory donates bananas to the elephant sanctuaries in exchange for elephant poo.This is where they clean the pooGrandma and Chloë boiling the pooThese are the coloured pulp ballsHere we take the poo pulp balls and squish them onto the plastic screen in the waterReady to be driedWe lean the screens against the bars here so they can dry in the hot sun ☀️☀️☀️Grandfather with the kids decorating the poopoo paper

    Elephant Poo Paper

    December 30, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    A few days ago. we went to an elephant poopoo paper factory with Grandma and Grandfather. At the factory they take elephant poo and clean it, boil it, colour it and make it into paper using coloured or neutral balls of elephant poo pulp. We mashed the balls of pulp onto large screens in water. Then we got to make our own paper on the screens, but it takes about five hours for it to dry, so we took home paper made by people before us. Then, we got to choose something made with elephant poo paper to decorate with elephant poo paper. The things you could choose from were bookmarks, notebooks, paper fans, wallets, greeting cards and other things like that. I decorated a wallet for someone special. At the end there was a big gift shop and we spent a lot of time there!!
    Chloë
    🐘🐘🐘    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    Look at this little face!1Grandma loves orchids!Orchids hanging in the airChloe's butterfly

    Bai Orchid and Butterfly Farm-tastic!

    December 28, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    We visited an orchid and butterfly farm in Mae Rim with Grandma and Grandfather - it was full of different kinds of orchids, with their roots hanging out of the ground. These orchids don’t need soil - they need light, moisture and air to grow. The middle of the flower, called the column, can look really funny - they are that way to attract insects so that their pollen can be carried to other orchids. The butterflies were really cool too. One landed on my sister’s hand when she was holding the phone so she took a photo of it with her nose. The Bai farm makes jewelry out of their orchids by putting lacquer on the petals, then outlining them in gold.
    By Dale    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    Our tiny, lovely Christmas tree, courtesy of our hosts Han and Jiw.
    Creative cookie building with Thai treats...Santa Claus found us in Chiang Mai...he brought booze!Dale got a giant kraft peanut butter for Christmas!Best Christmas present: Having the grand parents with us for a whole week!This is "Merry Christmas" in Thai

    Merry Christmas Everyone!

    December 25, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    For anyone who wants to watch our “Celebrating Christmas in Thailand” parody on Winter Wonderland, just click here:
    https://youtu.be/bvfm-0dwKZ4

    (We can’t post the whole thing on the finding penguins platform...)

    Performance and lyrics by all of us
    Video by Chloë

    These are the lyrics:

    [In this land, the land of smiles
    We must shed our winter styles
    Our flip-flops are out
    As we walk about
    Celebrating Christmas in Thailand

    Lanterns shine in the twilight
    Kids all whine on Muay Thai night
    No traffic lights to be seen
    But there’s still red and green
    For celebrating Christmas in Thailand

    So this winter we can still wear tank-tops
    Though in temples girls must hide their knees
    At the corner we can buy some ice-pops
    ‘Cause it’s the only thing that makes us freeze

    Mosquitoes hum
    Our Christmas carols
    While we sweat
    By the barrel
    Our life’s full of cheer
    But we wish you were here
    Celebrating Christmas in Thailand

    Celebrating Christmas in Thailand
    Celebrating Christmas in Thailand ]

    Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday! Much love from the Paisley-Taylors    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    Pounding our curry spices

    Cooking class

    December 22, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    A few days ago my Mom and I went to a Thai cooking school (Lana Smiles Cooking), to learn how to make some traditional Thai dishes 🥘. This is how the day went: first, we walked down to the Tha Pae gate, where we met one of the people who would be taking the class with us, named Mino. Then, we got picked up by Pim and Nim, the instructors, in their songthaew-like pickup truck 🚘. The other people doing the class with us were: Mino (Italian) 🇮🇹, Colleen and Rachel (American) 🇺🇸, Caleica 🇧🇷 and Eddie 🇳🇱 (Brazilian and Dutch), and of course, Pim and Nim (Thai) 🇹🇭. The first thing we did was drive to a market which was pretty far away, and Pim told us about some of the ingredients we would be using for the meals 🌶🌶🌶. Then, we had about 15 minutes to walk around the market separately and buy/try stuff. Mom and I found some delicious oranges 🍊, dried mangos 🥭, and some yummy fried dough that tasted a lot like Canadian Timbits 🍩!! After that, we drove to the cooking school, where we learned how to make different kinds of Thai noodle dishes, curries, spring rolls, desserts, and soups 🍜 🍛 🍨 🍲 🍚 . After we made each course, we got to eat it while it was still hot! I didn’t eat too much, but everyone else there was stuffed by the end of the day (I brought most of my food home for my dad to eat, because he loves Thai food!) It was a very fun and delicious way to spend time with my Mom!
    - Chloë    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    Mountain Rhododendron.1You can see how we are almost level with the clouds! ☁️☁️☁️The King and Queen twin pagodas.

    Kio Mae Pan Nature Trail

    December 19, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    We are at the highest point in Thailand. We spent a couple of hours on this amazing mountain trail with our guide Om. The trail winds its way through a tropical cloud forest jungle, a bio region that is unique to only a spare few places on the planet. The forest is full of moss and ferns that gather moisture from the clouds as they condense on the branches and leaves of the trees. We arrived too late in the day to see the clouds rising out of the forest, but the humidity amongst the trees is a lasting reminder of where the forest gets its water from. We emerged from the forest onto a sub-alpine meadow and spectacular views of the valleys bellow. Before we re-enter the forest, we can see the twin pagodas across the valley.Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    1
    There's Malcolm picking his nose... 😆The Queen's PagodaThe King's Pagoda.Engraved walls tell the stories of Siddartha's journey to becoming Buddha. Can you find the turtle?

    Doi Inthanon National Park

    December 19, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Today we took a trip to a nearby national park. It was really nice to be out in the fresh air and away from the hustle and concrete of Chiang Mai. We started at the Wachirathan waterfall and finished at the royal pagodas (twin chedis) of the former king and queen of Thailand. The pagodas are quite beautiful and ideally located on the highest mountain in Thailand. They are surrounded by large and well maintained gardens.Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    White Karen hill tribe village.
    This lovely lady makes beautiful blankets, table cloths and local clothing.Coffee cherries ready for pressing.Coffee beans drying in the sun.1Lara grinding beans roasted that morning!As local as coffee can get.This is a cat we found and named 'Moustache'. Look closely at his face to see why!!1We nicknamed him Moustache. Look closely under the nose to see why...Village classroom.

    Karen People - Hill Tribe Village

    December 18, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We visited a hill tribe village located in the national park Doi Inthanon. The climate is perfect for year round farming, so the Karen are able to produce most of what they need to live. We saw all kinds of fruit trees including mango, dragon fruit and tamarind. And a variety of crop fields (rice, corn, onions, garlic). The Karen people live in raised houses and keep their animals underneath. One of their only market crops is coffee. We had a chance to see the bushes where the red cherries come from, the press that extracts the bean, the racks of drying beans, and the roaster. Lara used a hand grinder to grind her own beans for a very fresh cup of coffee that hadn’t travelled more than a few metres land to cup. The kids, of course, found several animals to play with and Geoff had a chance to visit the local school.Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    At CM Design week, performing after torrential rains. i thought of Hey Buster!
    We couldn't even get through the door for this expat XMas show! Their choir was pretty rough...Who says you can't find a community nativity play in a Buddhist country?I love the wise men's camel!Kids didn't mind being dragged along so long as it meant Christmas cookies...Ok... so we got some help from a recorded choir... it was still fun to sing!

    Trying to find community...

    December 17, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    One of the things I love to do when travelling is find and join in local community activities - I find it especially rewarding when these include music or dance. In Thailand, of course, it has proven more challenging - the language barrier means I can’t read posters or do a thorough social media search. Here are the fruits of my labour so far... I learned a) outdoor local music shows don’t only get rained out in Ottawa, b) being an expat might be a bit like being at camp - lots of amateur performances amongst cliques, and c) a hearty sing-a-long hallelujah chorus is possible anywhere at Christmas time! - LaraRead more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    This hike was consistently steep the whole morning.Elementary school in the Hmong village.Our lunch stop, complete with homegrown coffee.View of Chiang Mai from the Bus Ban lookout.

    Hike to Hmong Hill Tribe Village.

    December 15, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Lara sent me off with the Doi Suthep Walkers early this morning. The Walkers are a collection of local hiking aficionados and the current Chiang Mai travellers lucky enough to stumble upon their Facebook page (myself included). We climbed for close to three hours to a small hill tribe village where we enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by one of the families from the village. It was fun to be out with other travellers and talk shop, although none of them were also escaping from their young children for the day. Hikers from our group represented England, Romania, Finland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain, Malaysia, China, and the good old US of A.
    - Geoff    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    I sped this up a bit - the fish don't actually move that fast😀
    1

    Fish spa

    December 12, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    Last night when we were on our way home from Muay Thai, we came across a ‘fish spa’ which was a bunch of cushioned benches, and at the bottom of each bench there was a fish tank with at least 50 fish in it. Malcolm and I were the only ones brave enough to try it (my dad was too chicken to go near it). We got a 10 minute treatment for only 60 baht each (less than $3 each). First, you have to clean your feet with a wet cloth, then you stick them in the tank and all the fish come and nibble at your feet. Everyone who walked by was staring and smiling, and a few people decided to try it after seeing us do it. It almost felt like they should be paying us instead of the other way around because we attracted so much attention! Malcolm had to take his feet out of the tank after about 5 minutes because it felt so weird. It felt really weird and tingly but after a while it felt pretty good!
    🐠🐟🐡
    -Chloë    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler

    The Sticky Waterfalls

    December 5, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Today we went to a waterfall but it was sticky. It wasn’t slippery, you could walk on it and climb it. It had three levels and one more secret bottom level. We started at the bottom and we climbed using our hands and feet. Some people used ropes for the hard parts. We played there for a long time and we also saw some green spikey things that were in a cave that looked like a lion’s mouth. It was really fun. When we were done at the waterfall we started a walk to a fountain, but I tripped and fell, so I did not go see it. Then we drove back home with Mr. Ning. In the morning, on the way to the waterfall, we stopped at a Wat that was very beautiful, but Malcolm and I did not get out of the car to see it.
    - Dale    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    Bagi, our head coach, won his fight in the first minute of round 1!
    Big light and sound show before each bout.Rituals before the fight. The music continues through the entire bout.Coach Sep in the black shorts. He is only 16 and he has competed in over 50 fights!

    Muay Thai Fight Night

    December 2, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    We have been taking Muay Thai classes twice a week at a local gym. The coaches are excellent with the kids and with Lara and I. Two of our coaches were scheduled to fight this evening so I headed out to a stadium in rural Thailand with a bunch of the gym regulars to support them. It was great to see these guys in action. There are many rituals that precede each bout including both fighters greeting their opponents corner. Each fight consists of 5 rounds, a round lasts two minutes for women and three minutes for men. There were a few fighters as young as 8yrs old competing before the more seasoned veterans were called up. What struck me the most is how much fun the fighters are having. Each round begins with a high-five and ends with a hug, and they joke with each other between punches and kicks. It is truly a sport and not the grizzly display of bravado I was expecting. The last thing they do after the fight is over is go and drink out of their opponents water cup. Fun night, and I learned enough to know that I won’t be entering a ring anytime soon. I value my bones and what’s left of my brian cells too much.
    - Geoff    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler

    Meeting an elephant family

    November 30, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Today, we took a bus to meet an elephant family and their owners. We were a small group - just us and two couples from Canada and the UK. First we fed the elephants bananas and long stalks of grass. There were Four adults and one baby named mini and a teenager named Bella.Then we went on a hike with the elephants and one almost brought a whole tree down. When we got back we had lunch of rice, passion fruit juice and delicious curry (for my parents.. I ate peanut butter sandwiches). Then we covered two elephants in mud (their shampoo) and brought them to a stream for a bath. We got really wet, splashing the elephants and each other. It was really fun! The elephants pick up sand with their trunks to keep mosquitos away, to dry off, and for “sunscreen”. Before we visited the elephants, daddy and I did some research and we learned a bunch of facts - their poo is used for lots of practical things, like making paper, and they have over 100 000 muscles in their trunk. I could see that they use their trunk for breathing, drinking, smelling, trumpeting, showering, balance walking up hills, a snorkel for swimming, grabbing food, and throwing sand. It is amazing! Then we gave them another snack and said goodbye. I slept on the long bus ride home. - DaleRead more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    Susan from Ohio and Gene from Seattle.
    Wat Pha Lat, halfway up the mountain.Dale with her special sticks.This was steep going up!The last 309 steps to reach the temple.Wat Phra That Doi SuthepThe balconies of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep afford us an amazing view of Chiang Mai.Look at the size of this bell!

    Wat Pha Lat - The Monk's Trail

    November 29, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Today we got up bright and early to try and beat the heat on a hike up Doi Suthep, a mountain just outside of Chiang Mai. We met up with Gene and Susan who joined us for the first part of the hike, and then we continued off on our own. It is called The Monk’s Trail because, before the road was put in, it was used by the monks on their ascent to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep near the top of the mountain. About half way up, we reach Wat Pha Lat, a former resting place for the monks on their journey to the top. This Wat is built around has several serene pools that are filled and emptied by small waterfalls. Since this is midway on the road to the top, this beautiful place is usually ignored by the tour busses so it remains peaceful and is fun to explore almost completely on our own. Past Wat Pha Lat, we continued on a very steep trek for another hour to finish at our goal, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. After exploring the temple, we rode back to Chiang Mai in the back of a songthaew with several travellers, all of whom were at least half our age. They were all very impressed that the kids had hiked themselves up to the top!
    - Geoff    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    Even the Latte is worth an "awww..."
    1Malcolm's waffle with mango sorbet, whip cream and the closest thing to maple syrup here!Chloë's wsffle - same thing but vanilla ice cream. The waffle is called 'Jingle bell'.Dale's beary yummy pancakeWhy not seat your toddlers on a small platform with sheer sides and a long drop... :)Nothing left...A 5 star Dale smile!

    At the Bear Hug café near our house

    November 24, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Normally I don’t post food photos, but the cuteness factor here was so over-the-top, that we just had to share. If your kids are cranky from heat, math, and Muay Thai sore muscles, the fix in Chiang Mai is apparently sweets shaped like bears (with a latte for mama and a bacon burger for dad)! The café is also equipped with stuffed bears at the tables. I think Malcolm has finally found his birthday meal restaurant... so we’ll be back in 3 days.Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    One of our lanterns for Yi Peng - it was so funny - it drew quite a crowd!)
    1You can see hundreds of lanterns in the background!One of the floats at the paradeThere weren't as many lanterns out at this time, but there were more laterChloë and Geoff making KrathongsAnother one of our lanternsThis krathong was really cool but we had a problem when we lit it!

    Loy Krathong and Yi Peng

    November 24, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    These past three days have been the Thai festivals ‘Loy Krathong’ and ‘Yi Peng’. Loy Krathong is a celebration that translates into ‘to float baskets’. The baskets (krathongs) are made out of thick slices of banana tree trunk, pieces of banana leaves, pretty flowers, and you stick incense and candles in it, then, once you’ve lit the candles and incense, you float them down the ping river, on the first full moon of the twelfth month (Thai lunar calendar). Make sure you make a wish when you float it! This year it was November 22. Yi peng is at the same time, but for yi peng you float lanterns into the sky. There was so many people in the main streets that you could barely move at all! If you’ve been to one of these festivals before, comment your experience!
    Chloë    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    2

    Muay Thai

    November 23, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Yo everyone, its Malcolm😜
    Muay Thai is a kick boxing fight that uses eight limbs to fight. To be a fighter you have to have a strong set of fists, knees, legs and elbows. Muay Thai is just like boxing but using legs to kick your opponent. We take a Muay Thai class twice a week with a training group half an hour away from our house. At the start of training we do skipping with heavy ropes for 15 minutes non-stop but most of the time, Dale and I get on huge bouncy tires and jump with weights in our hands. After that we do stretches for 10 minutes but for me its more like break every bone in your body because all the trainers keep pushing me to do extra work. After “stretches” we all get seperated into 3 groups: Dale and I go with Sep, the adults go with Bagi, and Chloë works with Tam. Everyone works on different stuff for most of it but sometimes we all go to the punching bags for fist strengthening. At the end we all come together to repeat the stretches.
    That’s all for now but I will talk to you all soon!
    Malcolm🤩😎😜🇨🇦💩💩💩🥳🏀🗺👦🏻    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler

    Wat Daowadung

    November 22, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    This Buddhist temple is only a few steps from our home and quite apart from the Old City temples. It is small by comparison to other temples and quite peaceful. We had to dress appropriately to visit the Wat, women must wear long clothes to cover down below their knees and at least over their shoulders while men need only wear shirts with short sleeves and shorts. Once we had removed our shoes, we were invited into the temple by several elderly ladies who brought us sticky rice treats and offered us chairs to sit.

    We were joined by a young monk named Somsi (sp?) who sat with us and chatted about the life of a Buddhist monk in Chiang Mai. He explained about their daily routines and how someone might become a monk. We learned that some of the youngest monks have been orphaned and are taken in by the monasteries. There are female Buddhist monks, but they have many more rules to follow than the men. Some Thais don’t want to socialize with the monks because they use “elevated” words which not everybody knows.

    Somsi’s English was excellent so I asked him how he had learned? He told us that the monks study English at school but YouTube is the best source!
    - Geoff    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler

    The International Language of Ping-Pong

    November 17, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 30 °C

    Malcolm and I wandered through the old city to a physical education park where we found the Chiang Mai Table Tennis Club. For a whopping 2$ we acquired day passes and enjoyed a couple of hours of ping-pong. After a while we invited a young Thai fellow to join us. He was much better than both of us, but very polite with his play. His parents were so excited to see us playing together that they asked to make a movie with their phone, so I grabbed a picture too. We couldn’t say much to each other except smile and laugh at ourselves. Before we parted ways, we exchanged a wai (a bow with the hands clasped in front of our chins) and more smiles.
    - Geoff    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    This is Chloë with 'Becky'Dale with 'Mow Mow'Malcolm with BeckyMow Mow!Guinea pigsWatch them come running when they hear the food!Feeding time

    Hedgehog cafe

    November 17, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Last night we explored around our neighbourhood, and we came across something called a ‘hedgehog cafe’. I think it’s kind of like the cat cafe in Ottawa but I’m not sure because I haven’t been to the cat cafe. At the hedgehog cafe, you bought a combo of
    — 1,2,3, or 4 drinks
    — a waffle or piece of cake
    — and a pass to ‘enjoy the hedgehogs’
    We got three mango smoothies, and a water. The lady brought two hedgehogs to two separate glass cages with open tops. She also gave us each a pair of gardening gloves, a towel (to clean up) , a pair of tweezers and a bowl of dried meal worms. We got to play with the hedgehogs and give them meal worms. There was also a bunch of guinea pigs, and we got to feed and play with them too! They were so cute!!
    Chloë    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    Outside part of the teak house
    Gate to the teak houseOutside part of the teak houseOutside stillOutsideMain area of the insideMalcolm and Geoff sitting in the porchTemple across the street2Lara and Geoff at our 'bar' kitchen

    We're in Thailand!!

    November 15, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    We just got to Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand, yesterday morning at 6:30 am. We were so jet lagged, that we fell asleep a few hours after we got settled into our new teak house, and when we woke up, we thought it was the next morning, even though it was only 3:00 in the afternoon! Afterwards, we went exploring around our neighbourhood, and discovered a day market selling clothes, shoes and Thai food/sweets. For dinner last night, Malcolm and I had pork satay and rice, and my parents had green curry chicken soup, and chili cashew chicken (Dale had a peanut butter sandwich, of course!). When we went to sleep for real, every single one of us woke up at 1:30 in the morning, because we were still so jet lagged. I ended up getting out of bed at 11:00 am. Then we went out for a snack and card game at a local bakery, and on the way home we stopped at a Thai restaurant, and had rice, chicken pad Thai, and spicy pork with basil. The whole meal only cost 130 Thai baht, equivalent to 5$ Canadian! We live in a teak house, which is an old wooden house, where only the living room, bedrooms, and one of the bathrooms are inside. The rest of the house is outdoors. I only have one pair of shorts out of three, that apparently aren’t too short to wear in Thailand, and only two t-shirts out of five, that cover my shoulders enough. The bad things here, are that we have no washing machine, or dishwasher, but it might be okay, because there’s a laundromat around the corner, and my guess is that we won’t be doing many dishes anyways. I don’t think we’ll be eating at home very often, because getting groceries is more expensive than eating at restaurants here! The temperature here is 33 degrees C outside right now, so that means most of our house is hot. A few yeas ago, someone turned this original teak house into a bar, but it closed down because it’s across the street from a temple! Now it is a house again! All the cars and motorbikes drive on the other side of the road, which can be annoying for me because it’s not what I’m used to.
    Chloë    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    Cards and playing with "little guys" for Dale
    A huge screen - in an airport!AirportCool wall design in the airportIs that a bear??

    Airport in Qatar

    November 13, 2018 in Qatar ⋅ 🌬 26 °C

    We just arrived in Qatar 🇶🇦 after a six hour flight. We had to wake up at 4:30 in the morning, and we had some bus trouble in the way to the airport...🚎🛫 now we have to wait three more hours until our next flight, to Chiang Mai 🇹🇭. Right now we are in the airport. The flight we just took was really fancy, (for us ;) ) and it had lots of tv shows and movies. 📺 For breakfast, we had the choice of a cheddar omelet, 🥚
    scrambled eggs, 🥚
    or pancakes 🥞 and porridge 🥣 (bleh). Lunch was chicken shawarma with a vanilla coconut sponge cupcake. I found out that I love shawarma!
    We will soon be in Thailand!!
    Chloë    Read more

  • Paisleys Abroad435 World TourTraveler
    Sagrada Familia basilica
    Gaudì designed the columns to feel like a forestWe played eye-spy here - can you find the basoon?Park Guell designed by GaudìGaudì's famous dragon/ salamander - found all over Barcelona as tourist iconBarcelona from Parc GuellCasa Batllò by GaudíDelicious late night churros!

    Estimem a Barcelona!

    November 12, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We all agree that two days is not nearly enough time to explore Barcelona... everyone wants to come back at some point. We focused on Antoni Gaudí, famous Spanish modernist architect - and visited several of his sites and buildings. Gaudí is playful and reverent, light and dense all at the same time. He is quoted as saying (translation) “To do things well, first, you need love; second, the technique”. I am inspired! LaraRead more

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